GOP introduces slash-and-burn budget for the environment:

Cross-posted from ThinkProgress Green . Republicans have officially unveiled a slash-and-burn budget plan for the environment, with drastic cuts to environmental agencies and numerous riders to exempt polluters from science-based regulation. The House Appropriations Committee released the Interior and Environment Appropriations bill for the fiscal year 2012, to be considered in subcommittee tomorrow. The legislation includes major cuts in funding for the Department of the Interior, the EPA, the Forest Service, and various independent and related agencies. This Tea Party budget eviscerates protections [PDF] for air, water, and land while delivering industry lobbyists a grab bag of favors. The bill denies not only the threat of global warming pollution, but also that of formaldehyde, coal ash, and pesticides. The bill cuts EPA funding by $1.8 billion, or 20 percent, below Pr...